Pitcher for dispensing liquids contained in bags

ABSTRACT

A dispenser comprising an elongated hollow body having a bottom end and an upper open end. Actuable cutting means secured in the edge of the upper open end. At least a portion of the body is formed of flexible material whereby to permit actuation of the cutting means by flexing portions of the body on each side of the cutting means. A dispenser sleeve is also provided for securement to the open end edge of an ordinary pitcher and consists of a body of flexible material having a raised upper edge and a lower edge. Means are provided to releasably secure the body adjacent its lower edge to the pitcher open end edge. Actuable cutting means are secured in the upper edge of the body and actuated by flexing portions of the body on each side of the cutting means.

United States Patent [191 Fleury PITCI'IER FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS CONTAINED IN BAGS [76] Inventor: Camille G. Fleury, 198 Adam St.,

Richmond, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 299,801

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1904 Downing 30/253 2/1959 Randall 12/1961 Povitz 222/191 X Mar. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-Stan1ey H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Joseph J. Rolla 5 7] ABSTRACT A dispenser comprising an elongated hollow body having a bottom end and an upper open end. Actuable cutting means secured in the edge of the upper open end. At least a portion of the body is formed of flexible material whereby to permit actuation of the cutting means by flexing portions of the body on each side of the cutting means. A dispenser sleeve is also provided for securement to the open end edge of an ordinary pitcher and consists of a body of flexible material having a raised upper edge and a lower edge. Means are provided to releasably secure the body adjacent its lower edge to the pitcher open end edge. Actuable cutting means are secured in the upper edge of the body and actuated by flexing portions of the body on each side of the cutting means.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispenser and more particularly to a novel pitcher and a pitcher adapter for dispensing liquids contained in plastic bags.

2. Description of Prior Art Pitchers have heretofore been provided for dispensing liquids contained in bags. The bag is inserted in the pitcher and a corner of the bag protruding above the mouth opening of the pitcher and adjacent the pouring lip, is cut off wherebythe liquid in the bag can be dispensed by tilting the pitcher. Such pitchers are now commonly used for dispensing milk packaged in plastic bags.

A disadvantage of this method of dispensing liquids contained in bags, is that it is required to have cutting means, such as scissors or other cutting instruments to cut out a corner of the bag each time a new bag is inserted in the pitcher. Such instruments are sometimes not readily available and present an inconvenience.

Furthermore, some of the milk dispensing pitchers known are substantially shorter than the length of the milk bags and when the pitcher is tilted the liquid rushes to the top or front part of the bag causing a force to be exerted in this part of the bag, especially if the cut out portion is small, and sometimes resulting in uneven flow-of liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a feature of the present invention to provide a pitcher and a pitcher adapter which substantially overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to a broad aspect the invention provides a dispenser comprising an elongated hollow body having a bottom end and an upper open end. Actuable cutting means secured in the edge of the upper open end. At least a portion of the body is formed of flexible materialwhereby to permit actuation of the cutting means byflexing portions of the body on each side of the cutting means. 3

According to a further broad aspect the present in- DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a pitcher 10 having an elongated hollow body 11, a bottom end 12, a handle 13 and a dispensing extension or lip 14 in the front portion of the body adjacent the handle 13. Actuable cutting means 15 are provided in the dispensing lip 14 which lip is made of flexible material and preferably of a soft plastic material.

The cutting means 15 are shown in FIG. 3 as consisting of two elongated metallic arms 16, preferably of stainless steel for sanitary purposes, each having a flat surface 17 and pivotably secured to each other by suitable means such as screw 18 whereby the flat surface 17 of each arm is in substantially frictional contact in a portion thereof and can be moved in substantially coextensive relationship with each other. Each arm 16 has an inside bevelled edge 19 sloping outwardly rearward from the surface 17 whereby to form a scissor-like cutting means between adjacent edges by moving both arms 16 toward each other. Holes 20 are provided in the arms 16 to secure them by means of screws or rivets 23, to a respective sidewall 21 of a central groove 24 in the upper edge 22 of the lip 14. It may also be possible to secure the arms 16 during the forming of the pitcher and the holes 20 would not be required. The lower ends of the arms 16 are provided with end protrusions 16" to prevent the travel of the arms past their coextensive alignment.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the groove 24 is of substantially V-shape configuration with the base of the opening terminated in a substantially circular opening 25. The opening 25 permits the bottom portion 16 of the scissor-like arms 16 to protrude outside the front face of the lip 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Also, this facilitates the operation of the cutting arms 16 as will be devention provides a dispenser sleeve for securement to the open end edge of a pitcher. The dispenser sleeve consists of a body of flexible material having a raised upper edge and a lower edge. Means are provided to releasably secure the body adjacent its lower edge to the pitcher open end edge. Actuable cutting means are secured in the upper edge and actuable by flexing portions of the body on each side of the cutting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF, DRAWINGS scribed later.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a further embodiment where there is provided a dispenser sleeve 30 which is flexible to assume the same shape as the lip 14 and is provided with the cutting means 15 in an identical manner as previously described for the lip 14. The bottom edge 31 of the sleeve 30 is herein shown as having a double wall whereby to form a groove or mouth 32 to receive and releasably secure to the upper edge 33 of a standard pitcher 34 as shown in FIG. 5. Instead of forming a mouth 32, the sleeve 30 could alternatively be provided with fingers or other type of gripping means-to removably secure the sleeve to the upper edge 33 of the pitcher.

As can be seen from both FIGS. 1 and S, the lip 14 or sleeve 30 can be reinforced along their upper edge 22, as shown at 35, by making the plastic material thicker in this region to ensure that the groove 24 always assumes its open position (shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). The reinforced region 35 may also be provided with markings or depressions whereby to indicate where the thumb and other fingers of the users hand are to be placed on the lip 14 or sleeve 30, to actuate the scissor-like cutting means 25. As shown in FIG. 5, the thumb depression 36 is to the left of the opening 24 or on the side of the opening which is secured to the outside arm 16 of the cutting means 25. Depressions 37 on the other side of the opening 24, indicate where the other fingers are located. The reason for these markings or depressions is to provide for the desired distribution of pressure on the respective arms 16.

In operation, a bag 40 containing a liquid 41 is placed in the hollow body of the pitcher or 34. A comer portion 42 of the bag 40 will be positioned adjacent the cutting means and by inserting the comer 42 of the bag between the cutting arms 16 and by flexing the lip 14 or sleeve on both sides of the arms 16 toward each other, the arms 16 will move toward each other causing the edges 19 to cut the comer portion 42 of the plastic bag and providing a spout 43 in the bag for the liquid to be dispensed. When the pressure is relieved from both sides of the opening 24 the lip or sleeve will reassume its normal position and the cutting arms 16 will separate. The reinforcement 35 is desired to prevent permanent deformation of the material adjacent the opening 24.

It is noted that by using the cutting means as described herein there is no danger of injuries to the user by the use thereof. Also, the cutting means does not require any special care when washing the pitcher or adapter. It is also within the ambit of the invention to provide a spout secured or formed integral with the container and extending from below and forwardly of the cutting means for dispensing such liquids as oil, acids, etc.

I claim:

1. A dispenser comprising an elongated hollow body having a bottom end and an upper open end, an opening formed in said hollow body and depending from said upper open end, a cutting element comprising two arms each having a cutting edge, each arm being connected to a respective side edge of said opening formed in said body, and at least a portion of said body formed of flexible material whereby to permit displacement of said cutting edges of said arms to and away from each other by flexing portions of said body on each side of said two arms.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two arms are pivotally connected to one another adjacent an end thereof.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arms are substantially elongated arms having a flat surface and a bevelled edge sloping rearwardly inwards from said flat surface, said flat surface facing each other and said bevelled edges being adjacent one another in the area of said opening.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opening is substantially V-shaped and having a rounded opening at the bottom thereof to permit a bottom end portion of said arms to protrude outwardly of said side walls.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further provided a handle for said dispenser, said body being formed of plastic material, said portions of said body on each side of said cutting means being reinforced by said plastic and having markings to permit proper actuation of said cutting means.

6. A dispenser sleeve for securement to the open end edge of a pitcher, comprising a body of flexible material having a raised upper edge and a lower edge, means to releasably secure said body adjacent its lower edge to said pitcher open end edge, an opening formed in said body and depending from said upper edge, a cutting element comprising two arms each having a cutting edge, each arm being connected to a respective side edge of said opening formed in said body, said cutting edges of said arm being displaceable to and away from each other by flexing portions of said body on each side of' said two arms.

7. A dispenser sleeve as claimed in claim 6 wherein said two arms are pivotally connected to one another adjacent an end thereof.

8. A dispenser sleeve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arms are substantially elongated arms having a flat surface and a bevelled edge sloping rearwardly inwards from said flat surface, said flat surfaces facing each other and said bevelled edges being adjacent one another in the area of said opening.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein said opening is substantially V-shaped and having a rounded opening at the bottom thereof to permit a bottom end portion of said arms to protrude outwardly of said side walls.

10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein said body is formed of plastic material, said material being reinforced on each side of said cutting means to permit proper actuation of said cutting means. 

1. A dispenser comprising an elongated hollow body having a bottom end and an upper open end, an opening formed in said hollow body and depending from said upper open end, a cutting element comprising two arms each having a cutting edge, each arm being connected to a respective side edge of said opening formed in said body, and at least a portion of said body formed of flexible material whereby to permit displacement of said cutting edges of said arms to and away from each other by flexing portions of said body on each side of said two arms.
 2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two arms are pivotally connected to one another adjacent an end thereof.
 3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arms are substantially elongated arms having a flat surface and a bevelled edge sloping rearwardly inwards from said flat surface, said flat surface facing each other and said bevelled edges being adjacent one another in the area of said opening.
 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opening is substantially V-shaped and having a rounded opening at the bottom thereof to permit a bottom end portion of said arms to protrude outwardly of said side walls.
 5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is further provided a handle for said dispenser, said body being formed of plastic material, said portions of said body on each side of said cutting means being reinforced by said plastic and having markings to permit proper actuation of said cutting means.
 6. A dispenser sleeve for securement to the open end edge of a pitcher, comprising a body of flexible material having a raised upper edge and a lower edge, means to releasably secure said body adjacent its lower edge to said pitcher open end edge, an opening formed in said body and depending from said upper edge, a cutting element comprising two arms each having a cutting edge, each arm being connected to a respective side edge of said opening formed in said body, said cutting edges of said arm being displaceable to and away from each other by flexing portions of said body on each side of said two arms.
 7. A dispenser sleeve as claimed in claim 6 wherein said two arms are pivotally connected to one another adjacent an end thereof.
 8. A dispenser sleeve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arms are substantially elongated arms having a flat surface and a bevelled edge sloping rearwardly inwards from said flat surface, said flat surfaces facing each other and said bevelled edges being adjacent one another in the area of said opening.
 9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein said opening is substantially V-shaped and having a rounded opening at the bottom thereof to permit a bottom end portion of said arms to protrude outwardly of said side walls.
 10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein said body is formed of plastic material, said material being reinforced on each side of said cutting means to permit proper actuation of said cutting means. 